Mississippi Delta blues was primarily performed by solo male musicians accompanying themselves on acoustic guitar. They typically performed in informal settings such as rural juke joints and street corners.
Chicago blues uses electric instruments and amplifiers and is played by an ensemble rather than a solo musician. Instruments common to Chicago blues include electric guitar, drums, harmonica, piano, double bass, and electric bass. Chicago blues was played on busy city streets and in crowded nightclubs. The music needed to be amplified to be heard above the din in these settings.